Review: 1986 Chevrolet Corvette 

I owned a 84, 90, 89, 94, 05, and my current 2010 Grand Sport. Love Corvette, and anyone who doesn't...is an alien from planet hater.

There is nothing more glorious than an 80's digital dash.

Those 80s to early 90s vettes, camaros, and firebirds are my favorite looking cars! So sleek and aerodynamic looking! Imagine if they brought that body style back now with all the modern technology and suspension and LS motors.

I really like when you do cars under $10 grand, it helps a lot for people like me who have a small budget

these cars were ahead of their time...

I just bought an 86 with 41,000 miles on it. One owner and garaged and very well taken care of. The car rides great, smooth and no squeaks or rattles. Paid 7800.00 for it. Came with both tops and all the upgrades.

It would be interesting to get your take on older cars more often, its refreshing.

I just got a 86 C4 as my first car and i love it!

bought an 86 Corvette coupe $6000 put on tires $600 and battery $138 TSP sensor $35 runs excellent 95k miles 2nd owner

There is nothing really strange about the interior. Lotus, Porsche, and even Lamborghini were very similar.

The second "cup holder" is an ashtray with a snuffer.

Your reviews have gotten so much better than your older ones! You've come such a long way. Once again, cool review Matt!

This is my dream car. Can't wait till I get mine!

Nothing funnier than watching younger generation review80s badassery

This is one of your best reviews. I love the classic cars. Especially corvettes. I drove an '87 with the Doug Nash 4+3 manual for a few years and had more fun driving that than a c5 Z06. You're spot on about the c4 feeling like a smaller car than the c5 or c6. I felt way more confident driving the c4. It's way underrated and as always gave Porsche and Ferrari a run for their money...

That cup holder is actually normal size. We've become accustom to drinks being obnoxiously large the last two decades. When I owned my Starion I had to often return the "small" for a kids size because the small was entirely unmanageable being so top heavy with such a narrow base.

I'm a Pro Mechanic 40+ years Exp back in 1986 I was 23 and remember these cars well this year had 1st Tune Port Injection TPI and to this day its still a good Fuel Injection system actually Corvette was 1st GM car to have Hot wire Air Flow Meter-O2 Sensor and Still used to this day my Little Snot Nose Millennials. Lol The Engine has Great Throttle Response Between TPI System and Engine had Roller Camshaft Lifters and Electric Cooling Fans Radiator all Older cars had Big fan attached to the Water Pump Which Caused a Slight Drag on Throttle Response and Gas Mileage. Another Fact it Could almost do 1g around a Turn which today's standards is Excellent. I have 92 C4 Convertible Black Rose Ext/Black Int, Engine LT1 W/Vortec Supercharger 450HP 6spd Manual Trans I'm 1st owner n done some Nice High Perf up grades on the Vette Fun To drive and still get lots of Admired Looks Especially Top Down. Great Car for $$$$ Oh n that Bose system I had in the car what a over rated POS my 1974 Radio Shack Bedroom mono AM Radio/Alarm Clock Sounded Better n Louder Ripped that Bose Tuner n Speakers out installed Alpine System Ahh much Better since I drove it off Show Room Floor 8/92

What a fitting theme song. Couldn't get more 80s than that!

I have a custom 86 vette, custom 87 vette , and a 93 Callaway Corvette. Love the c4 more than any vette

This is just damn awesome. Great review. 80's cars are just so bad they are good.

People dis the C4s, but they still had good handling and plenty of power. Hey, it's a 350 V8 in a fairly light car, and that spells fun!

Headlights go up. Headlights go down.

Sounds like high mileage and low maintenance. I bought my 86 z51 with 44,000 miles back in 92. It was tight and like new. Not bouncy or sloppy in any way. The z51 steering rack is 12:1 and rips. 2 turns lock to lock.

The only guy I watch and trust has yet another review for a car I'm looking at!! Yes!!

Matt Just bought one of these off your review. I am in Melbourne Australia and car is in Des Moines IA. Can't wait to get it. Thanks Chris

I remember when the 84 Vette first came out. There was nothing like it. It was like a space ship. The tire width was striking. They were huge. Nobody cared that it only had 200 horsepower. It was pretty quick and was awesome to drive. The suspension was light years ahead of anything else available. It replaced a car that had a chassis design from 1963. I always loved the C4

I kinda read on your face when you said - I'll come back and give you updated impressions,you almost added : if i make it alive lol

I think these reviews are awesome and can teach the younger generations about how it use to be

I've never laughed this much for a car review. "If it wasn't for all the creeks and rattles, it would be pretty refined." Ha! I was in high school when this came out, and I lusted for this car. Now looking back, your review makes it seem hilarious. But I still think it's the best-looking Vette ever. Thanks for the laughs, Matt.

You just made me love this car even more! It's my child's dream to buy this one (thanks to Test Drive 1) and I might do so next Wednesday. Awesome video!

4:07..exactly my thoughts, heavily researching a C6/C5/C4, the quality and thought put into this C4 interior, where with the later models you can tell it's all about the LS engine, and the rest is GM parts bin, up 'till the C7.

Haha, you captured the essence of the vette : they're fun as hell to drive. Also, you have really good editing. Your transitions are flawless.

Retro review! I love it! The performance these things offer for the price point is really quite good and they are so buildable beyond that. It is a seriously capable car most people could afford as just a toy to Tinker with and make faster

Sure, blame the 80's.... lol x) in my opinion, the bounciness and horrid squeaking and rattling give it character!!! Love this model vette.

Great job with this review! More episodes featuring older cars would be very welcome...this was really entertaining. Your evaluation of the C4 was spot on and fair....and I still think they're cool cars.

I'm happy to see you do this review. I love all the cars from this era. I think these cars have so much charm, personality, and spirit for their age and even though they're far from perfect they offer a great platform for restomodding these things into real beasts. This car stripped to the frame with basic driver functions loses about 1000lbs. Put in a c6 ANYTHING and this car becomes a monster. Also these cars can be had for way less than 7k. You can get a vette for about 1500 bucks with mostly cosmetic issues. All you have to do is avoid the digital gauge cluster (or have an analog one at home) and you can wire in an ls3, ls2, lq9...the list literally goes forever. Honestly for 7 k you can really get a a car that has GT0 power, c6 zr1 weight, and Shelby GT 350 traction if you spend it in the right places. This is literally the "toyota 4 runner" of sports cars. Not so great from the factory but once you invest a few dollars it becomes a force to be reconned with. Some of these things go for 20k in stock form if you get the right model. Modded they go for even more.

"Let's turn on this back road here" lol every car review he does he says that.

I own an 86 c4 and I love it ! its in its original gold paint which was quite a rare colour in 86

notice his excitement when he hit the gas, thats what it was all about....power when you hit the gas, control when you hit the corners....everything else really didn't matter then as long as it was stylish...and in the 80's that vette and the ferrari were the statement.

great review of the c4 all I will ever own is corvettes

I own an 86, gotta say I love the car. Not that fast, but it's fun to drive and unique. The driving position is 10/10 IMO. I don't have a problem with the footwells, and I'm 6'3" with a size 14 shoe. The parking brake is annoying though, since it's always in the way getting out. Very first thing I modified was taking the huge pad off the passenger side of the dash, and replaced it with a flat panel. The car is stiff as hell, but I like it honestly. The inherent problems kind of add to the charm for me, I guess. Great review man!

Matt I watch all the car review guys on YT but you are my favorite. No flash and no bells and whistles. Just a car guy sharing his car obsession with the world. My Dad has this exact car with a cool race exhaust and upgraded rear end. The car is just as you described. It feels heavy, but a good heavy. She loves to spin those tires and the brakes work. It's point and shoot and then brake hard. The whole time your smiling cheek to cheek!

I like the idea of mixing up the content with both older and of course the new car reviews is a good idea. Variety being the spice of life and all. Good video. I enjoyed it.

I love the retro reviews! Please do more! Thank you! Signed....we that lived through the pandemic!

the 86 corvette was the first car I ever drove at age 9 it was my uncles

I love my '88 convertible. Great suspension. Missing the ashtray, but the resulting cupholders hold a large McDonald's cup perfectly. Before airbags, padded dashes were required.

I'd kill for a grand sport of these. They only came in this really awesome blue with a white stripe. One of my favorite corvette generations.

I started laughing so hard when the music for the corvette came up, it fits the car so perfectly! My dad had a 1991 c4 ZR-1 and that car was fantastic

there is noooothing loose about a C4 suspension, specially a z51, this may need new tie rods or ball joints

Hubby just got this car 86' with 157,000 miles for $4000. And we totally love it. 👍

Loved it, would love to see more older cars for example the early 90's had some cars worth driving: 300ZX, RX7, Supra, 3000GT... NSX maybe? Would even love some more 80's like a Conquest TSI or MR2. Also anything Porsche or BMW would be amazing.

they were on drugs designing that interior..

I'll take a 1985-1995 vette over a new 2015 vette any day

my fav corvette.. Ive driven dozens of these over 20 years and i can say they still impress me to this day. My friends had the Lambo and Ferrari posters on their walls and i had the C4 poster.

I loved the review, you should do more older car reviews. It's a nice change. I was actually thinking of buying a C4 vette as a car to have fun with on the weekends, so thanks for this review.

I love the digital dashboard, so frigging cool!

I've owned an '84, '87, '93, and '00, very cool sports cars.

Great Review! You really captured the charm of the C4 Corvette.

That was the best review ever from wrxfan, awesome!

I’m sure I have written this before but there is nothing I remember better than my friend Jose’s ‘86 convertible yellow Pace Car edition with a 434cu going down the track at New England Dragway back in ‘89. His was an automatic. His short times were outstanding and his car launched so hard the rear mufflers would scrape and shoot sparks. He was running low 11’s around 11.1 but never broke into the 10’s. Inspired by him and a shortened Mustang notchback running a Paxton I went on to 11.7’s at 124mph with my ‘90 notchback in 1994 (street legal, AC and quiet). If I had the resources I’d do a C4 with a nice engine along the lines of the old Lingenfelter strategy. Btw the 11.1 was back in the late 80’s so that was and remains quick for a street car.

Fun fact: Michael Jordan had a c4 corvette.

So can you remove the roof in these? I’m thinking of buying one and that is kind of a deal breaker for me 🤣 I really want an open top experience but I can’t find a convertible one so I’m just wondering if the roof can be removed in these.

The last classic Vette. Especially ZR1 from 95

I really like the view with the gopro behind you. ***** used to do that kind of shot in his vlogs. It's really cool to be able to see the road while you're driving. And when it's a manual car, it's really fun being able to watch you go through the gears.

This was so much fun to watch Matt ! I like the bodystyle of the c4 alot and it was great to hear how it drives. A white manual convertible would bevmy choice I think:) Do more videos with older cars, I know more people will like it :)

Man you are so hilarious. I use to drive in those cars in my teens and they were rickety right out of the showroom. Awesome review!

These cars blanked Porsche 29-0 from '85-'87 in Escort Endurance racing. SCCA actually banned them and forced them to race against themselves in Corvette Challenge. If these guys are going to review 30 year old cars it would be so much better if they'd select sorted examples rather than try to act like they drove like this when they were new. C4 Corvettes are probably the best performance car bargains on the planet.

Nice job! Really enjoying more and more of your videos. Cool to see you having so much fun driving this Vette. It's so easy to knock older stuff because everyone is so spoiled by all the amazing cars we have today, but you don't do that and it makes this so much more fun to watch.

Love it! You should def do more classics!

I appreciate how open minded you are with your car reviews. Many reviewers seem to go into a review with a bad attitude simply because they have a grudge against the maker, or because the car isn't a product of their country. Many people won't even test drive a vehicle if it isn't their make of choice. I feel sorry for those people, they miss out on a lot of good experiences.

still looks better than the fusion coupe. (stang)

this fellow really shows his age here. For some reason, the 80s are a thing of both comedy and contempt (but mostly comedy) to his generation. An 80s Vette is a thing of beauty (although it indeed pales in comparison to the C3 before it).

I think they're really nice for the money. I wouldn't mind owning one myself.

Literally my future first car

damn the camaro had that same style key into 2002 lol

The music fits it so well in the beginning lol

I really liked this review! Something different. Now do another 80's car! Maybe Testarossa? Or a Lotus?

I would love to see some more classic/older car reviews in the future. Cool to see what the cars of the past were like compared to today.

That's absolutely hilarious when your bouncing like that lmfao

"If it wasn't for all the creaks and rattles it would sound fairly refined." Matt you're a generous man.

The C4 Corvettes were really cool back in those days, but the 1986 was not the year to own (especially an automatic, ??? lol)1988-91 TPI models perform much better than the 1986 TPI model. They do feel like a jet cockpit though, lol.

I have owned Vettes seance I was 25,back in the day a buddy & I had a lot of fun in a 86 Vette! Great review!

Excellent choice of initial road. Hilarious.

I enjoyed the review! Love seeing an 80s car here. I imagine the aftermarket possibilities for that are amazing and I don't think at 7 grand it's a bad investment. Interior is in good shape.

The only C4 worth buying is the final year 1996 model. For 1996, Chevrolet introduced the LT4 330 hp engine and all 1996 Corvettes with manual transmissions were LT4. Then the C5 came out a year later with an LS1. The C4 ZR-1's are all way too heavy and overpriced. Fun fact: the engine in the new Z06 is also called the LT4.

I have same car, 86 i love it awesome looking, feels great very happy with my 86, i have 100k on the miles, runs awesome, keeping my baby

Your review is that of a 12 year old girl. I own an 89 Vette. First the roads you were on were worse than those in Pennsylvania, more holes and bumps than you can shake a stick at. Second you must have had the original rubber on that car. With a set of good tires the C4 handles like it's on rails. In fact check the history of the car in SCCA racing. From 1985-87 of production class racing the C4 won every race it was entered in and generally took the first 8 places in every race This class included Porsche and Lotus. In 1988 Corvette was banned in this class and they did not race again for 2 years when a "Corvette Only" class was established. In 1990 the C4 ZR1 came to market with a 32 valve overhead cam 350 Cu In V8 producing 375 HP. It was the first "Super Car", with a top end of 180 mph. Now go change your tampon get in your Prius and do a burnout for me.

My 85 is an incredibly fun weekend cruiser. The "smile on your face" effect is pretty common with me as well. For the 80s, these cars are very respectable and impressive. The "boing boing boing" you get used to but I did laugh aloud at your reaction to the jarring. I'm sure to stay on smooth roads. My Z51 steering is TIGHT. Don't sneeze in a turn, LOL. As far as high 13s, it's doable with a good condition car with ideal atmosphere. Some bolt on cars run high 12s. Torque is your friend. I run 315s to keep down the wheelspin (not a fan of the turbine wheels anyway). The small cup holders are annoying, right? I'm thinking fast food cups were smaller 30 years ago. The insufficient foot space is due to that small of car being wrapped around such a beefy drive train (newer Vettes are so bloated). But yeah, don't wear boots. That was one of the first things I noticed when I got mine. Good review!

dude said actually 21 times

I have an 1989 convertible 6 speed and I absolutely love it. Say what you may about what you call shortcomings, however, I find mine to be blast to drive and don't have all the frigging computers etc. to worry about. Oh and it gets great gas mileage and handles great. It's not a daily driver, only once or twice a month dose it get a work out and it always leaves me smiling.

ROFLMAO! Bouncy Bouncy BOING BOING BOING! :D

Definitely a fun review!

Anyone not born or was a kid in the 80's please don't make reviews about cars way before your time. Not everything needs to be all about technology. It was a better time overall more than anything after 2001.

I've had a red '86 convertible for 22 years. I have always loved the styling. It's been a great car - reliable and easy to work on.

no manual...sigh

Also the cup holders hold a large sweet tea from McDonald's. It's very adequate. Most cups are smaller at the base so they fit right in.

wait... you can get a corvette for 7000$ fucking states why is everything so cheap over there

Picking one of these up Monday. Thanks for the review.

that car will out corner most cars today. you are annoying.

C4s are going up fast in value. Many exotic features: reverse clamshell hood, race 5 link rear suspension, rigid spine (ala Lotus) btw trans and rear differential, multi-port sequential injection (bigtime for mid 80s), reverse flip headlight, removable targa top, transverse fiberglass leafs, directional gatorbacks. The C4 is just now being respected for the great car it is. Get a C4 now before they are out of reach.